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Woman carjacked outside of HomeGoods in Tampa

Police arrested a woman for carjacking another woman outside of a store.

The crime happened outside of HomeGoods in the shopping plaza off of N Dale Mabry Highway near I-275.

The victim, Susan Jacobs, said she left the store and was putting away her things in the car when she felt someone behind her. It was around 6:30 p.m. The carjacking happened March 12.

"You could feel a presence and then when I turned around this woman was standing there," Jacobs said.

The suspect was identified as Kathryn Mittler of Gulfport.

"The way she walked up you wouldn't have known what she was doing," Jacobs said.

Jacobs said the woman pointed a gun at her and asked her for money.

"She had told me that she needed the money 'cause her grandson needed medicine," Jacobs said.

Jacobs said Mittler grabbed her purse and keys. Jacobs did not panic. She said 40 years ago someone held her up at a shopping plaza in Washington D.C. She said ever since then, she carries cash.

"I had cash on me and I feel like that saved my life. I really do believe that," Jacobs said.

Jacobs handed over money this time too.

Detectives said Mittler stole the car anyway and abandoned it a few blocks away. She was arrested March 18.

"Obviously this person was desperate to hold me up in broad daylight. There had to be some desperation, you know, to do what she did," Jacobs said.

Detectives charged Mittler with carjacking {using a} firearm and tampering with a witness.

Authorities said if you are ever in a similar situation do not fight. They said give the attacker what they are asking for like cash and try to remember as much information as possible about that person.

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